The donations of our supporters, people like you, are largely responsible for the Foundation's positive impact as detailed in our newsletters. Thank you for your kind generosity and support in helping save lives and reduce suffering. Much more needs to be done, and it cannot happen without your support.

We are pleased to announce that Fikerte Ayele, a certified civil engineer, has joined IFA as our Rural Development Coordinator. Ayele a dedicated professional with a record of commitment to service and community development, brings with her vital experience in building infrastructure and managing/developing human resources. She will be directing her skills and passion for helping the underserved toward expanding our sustainable School Health and Nutrition Program to rural schools in Ethiopia. We are excited to have Ayele as part of our team, and looking forward to the benefits we can achieve on behalf of poor and malnourished children.

Construction Begins on Agazian No. 2 Primary School Bakery

Construction has begun on the bakery at Agazian No. 2 Primary School that will help us to make our School Health and Nutrition Program (SHNP) sustainable for years to come. Parents and other members of the community first assisted in the cleaning and clearing of the space for the bakery:

Workers then built the foundation of the bakery:

The building phase of the project has commenced, and the walls of the bakery room have gone up:

IFA Launches New Eye Health Program

Students at several Addis Ababa-area schools have been benefitting from our School Health and Nutrition Program for the past year, receiving nutritious meals and health care they would otherwise have to live without. As part of our endeavors to help these children, we are launching a new Eye Health component of our SHNP in partnership with a foundation based in the Netherlands. Visual health is linked to better school achievement, quality of life, employability and productivity, and most families do not have the awareness or the access to services that can screen and treat visual impairments. Therefore, our program will be based on a coordinated approach between the school, parents, a private eye clinic and IFA. The screening will be conducted by trained teachers, and patients will be linked to an affordable service provider who will address uncorrected refractive errors. Schoolchildren with more complex eye-related problems will be receive appropriate referrals and follow ups.

This endeavor will benefit the children attending at least 10 school in 2015 and 2016. During this time, our staff will conduct the following activities: